‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Trailer Reveals Release Date and Cast Details

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s “Monster” anthology has established its identity by forcing viewers to confront America’s most notorious killers, with each new season sparking fresh controversy. Starting with a focus on Jeffrey Dahmer, the series has since explored the Menendez brothers and Ed Gein, igniting debates over whether it sheds light on or exploits its real-life subjects.

This controversy has been significant enough that even the creators have had to address accusations of glamorizing violence. After the Ed Gein season, Brennan defended the show, stating it aims to avoid exploitation and emphasizes the importance of not pulling back too much when narrating a macabre story.

Now, the anthology is venturing into a different era and subject matter. Netflix has unveiled the first teaser trailer for “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story,” the fourth chapter in the series, confirming a premiere date of September 17 for its eight-episode season.

Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie Borden, the notorious 19th-century figure accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. Despite the horrific charges, she was acquitted. The teaser features the haunting “Lizzie Borden took an axe” nursery rhyme, culminating in a bloodied, shocked Beatty as a voiceover delivers a grim twist on the familiar verse.

Beatty is the franchise’s first female “monster,” following a series of male killers that contributed to the show’s early notoriety. According to the official logline, the narrative revolves around a repressed daughter and her rebellious maid, Bridget Sullivan, who are trapped in a home filled with humiliation, seeking escape into a fantasy world of sex, power, and revenge.

The supporting cast includes familiar faces from previous seasons. Charlie Hunnam, who portrayed Ed Gein in the last installment, is back as Lizzie’s father, Andrew Borden. Vicky Krieps plays Bridget Sullivan, while Rebecca Hall takes on the role of Lizzie’s stepmother, Abby Borden. Billie Lourd and Jessica Barden complete the principal cast.

Ian Brennan wrote all episodes of the new season, maintaining the structure used in the Ed Gein installment. He and Murphy serve as executive producers alongside Max Winkler, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Louise Shore, Nissa Diederich, Todd Kubrak, Carl Franklin, and Tanase Popa. Winkler and Sarah Adina Smith direct the season.

Beatty’s casting followed what has been described as an extensive search by Murphy and Brennan to find the perfect actress for this challenging role. She previously appeared in Murphy’s “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” and recently starred in Mary Bronstein’s critically acclaimed “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” enhancing her prestige credits ahead of this significant role.

Given the scrutiny the “Monster” franchise has faced regarding its portrayal of real victims and their families, selecting a case where all individuals involved have been deceased for over a century seems like a purposeful shift in strategy. Whether this historical distance will influence how critics and audiences react to the show’s stylized violence remains to be seen as the September release approaches.

For a franchise that has consistently generated both high viewership and intense backlash, “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” appears set to continue this trend, substituting a 130-year-old case for the series’ usual contemporary true crime subjects. All eight episodes will be available on Netflix starting September 17.

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